Zambia: Sunzu Eyes Europe Move

CHIPOLOPOLO defender Stopilla Sunzu has finally decided to leave his DR Congo side, TP Mazembe for Europe after initially resisting the glamour and money of the European leagues.

The defensive midfielder said in an interview that he would be leaving former African champions TP Mazembe, who were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Confederation of Africa (CAF) Champions League.

Without naming his exact destination in Europe, Sunzu hinted on England as being his preferred stop, saying he would first need to look at other offers before coming up with the final decision.

Sunzu said he preferred to serve TP Mazembe soon after winning the Africa Cup of Nations co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early this year because of the respect he had for club proprietor, Moses Katumbi.

"After we won the Africa Cup of Nations in February this year, I was asked by TP Mazembe to stay on with the club until the end of the CAF Champions League campaign and because I understand and respect the club boss Moses Katumbi so much, I agreed to stay on.

"But now the Champions League is over and too bad we didn't win it, I will now have to move on in my career. As you know, there are hundreds of players who have come this far and not moved a step further, I have that opportunity and I am willing to take the chance, and I am taking it now," he said.

Sunzu has enjoyed a quick rise to the top winning the local Congolese League and CAF Champions League title with TP Mazembe before helping the Chipolopolo to win the Africa Cup of Nations including winning several man-of the-match awards at his club and country in big games.

When asked if England was the best of destination for him and not to other less demanding leagues, Sunzu started by ruling out France saying he had been there before and 'the environment there is not good for me, I know what I'm saying but I won't go back to France"

"I have spoken to a club in England and it may suffice but I may wait for the Africa Cup before I commit myself. We have several African players from Nigeria and Cameroun among others in England but why can't we Zambians playing there?" he asked.

Sunzu spent the 2008-09 season on a one-year loan at French Ligue-One side FC Chatterroux where he was injured and remained secretly unhappy about the stint there before he returned to play for Zambia at the 2010 Africa Cup and later joined TP Mazembe.

Sunzu said that ultimately, he would like to play for European champions Chelsea but he would not rush but start with a smaller club before eventually breaking into the bigger clubs where he expressed optimism he would one day get to play in.

"I believe in myself and I'm confident I can do it. I have always been a confident person in my career so even this time, I will be going into the Africa Cup and then Europe very confident and Zambia will see me make it," he said.

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